Design ideas for a tropical garden in Miami.

When I came to this property not only was the landscape a scrappy mess the property also had some very real grading and drainage issues that were jeopardizing the safety of this house. As recent transplants from New Jerseys to Southern California these clients were in awe of all the plants they were seeing in their neighborhood. Living on the water at the Ventura harbor they wanted to be able to take full advantage or the outdoor lifestyle and cool ocean breeze. Being environmentally conscious citizens, these clients were very concerned that their garden was designed with sustainability as a leading factor. As they said in our initial consultation, “Would want or garden be part of the solution not part of the problem.” This property is the last house on the bottom of a gently sloping street. All the water from the neighbor’s houses drain onto this property. When I came into this project the back yard sloped into the house. When it would rain the water would pool up against the house causing water damage. To address the drainage we employed several tactics. Firstly, we had to invert the slope in the back yard so that water would not pool against the house. We created a very minor slope going away from the house so that water drains away but so the patio area feels flat. The back of the back yard had an existing retaining wall made out of shabby looking slump stone. In front of that retaining wall we created a beautiful natural stone retaining wall. This retain wall severs many purposes. One it works as a place to put some of the soil removed from the grading giving this project a smaller carbon foot print (moving soil of a site burns a lot of fossil fuel). The retaining wall also helps obscure the shabby existing retaining wall and allows for planting space above the footing from the existing retaining wall. The soil behind the ne retaining wall is slightly lower than the top of the wall so that when the run on water on from the neighbor’s property flows it is slowed down and absorbed before it has a chance to get near the house. Finally, the wall is at a height designed to serve as overflow seating as these clients intend to have occasional large parties and gatherings. Other efforts made to help keep the house safe and dry are that we used permeable paving. With the hardscape being comprised of flag stone with gravel in-between water has a chance to soak into the ground so it does not flow into spots where it will pool up. The final element to help keep the house dry is the addition of infiltration swales. Infiltration swales are depressions in the landscape that capture rain water. The down spouts on the sides of the houses are connected to pipe that goes under the ground and conveys the water to the swales. In this project it helps move rain water away from the house. In general, these Infiltration swales are a powerful element in creating sustainable landscapes. These swales capture pollutants that accumulate on the roof and in the landscape. Biology in the soil in the swales can break down these pollutants. When run of watered is not captured by soil on a property the dirty water flows into water ways and then the ocean were the biology that breaks down the pollutants is not as prolific. This is particularly important in this project as it drains directly into the harbor. The water that is absorbed in to the swales can replenish aquafers as well as increasing the water available to the plants planted in that area recusing the amount of water that is needed from irrigation. When it came to the planting we went with a California friendly tropical theme. Using lots of succulents and plants with colorful foliage we created vibrant lush landscape that will have year around color. We planted densely (the images in the picture were taken only a month after installation). Taller drought tolerant plants to help regulate the temperature and loss of water from the plants below them. The dense plantings will help keep the garden, the house and even the neighborhood cooler on hot days, will provide spaces for birds to enjoy and will create an illusion of depth in a somewhat narrow space. Today this garden is a space these homeowners can fully enjoy while having the peace of mind that their house is protected from flooding and they are helping the environment.

Perched on a mountainside offering breathtaking views overlooking Vancouver, this project is defined by a unique sculptural quality that carries from surfaces to plantings. The geometry of concrete work and paving details are designed to play with the eye and sightlines to the view of the city.

Photo of a mid-sized tropical front yard partial sun formal garden in Toronto with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Inspiration for a tropical shaded garden in San Francisco.

Shimizu bamboo fence represents one of Japan’s most luxurious privacy bamboo screens. The bamboo fence structure is similar to the Kenninji bamboo fence but constructed with the 1-inch thin bamboo pole used for the vertical poles. The slenderness of the small bamboo pole gives the fence a very elegant appearance but also makes maintenance rather difficult. Thus, ONETHATCH recreates the same Shimizu bamboo fencing aesthetic but with high-grade ASA resin to allow you to maintain your bamboo fencing beauty for decades. Wherever you installed faux bamboo fencing panels, you’ll be amazed at how well it withstands harsh climate conditions for decades while still looking awesome.

Design ideas for a small tropical courtyard driveway in Valencia.

Photo of a tropical garden in Miami.

An inexpensive wood fence is beautified with a wire trellis and pollinator attracting native vines.
Design ideas for a small tropical side yard shaded garden in Miami.

Sealight Studios Kauai
This is an example of a tropical garden in Hawaii.

Tropical garden in Hawaii.

Mark Ammen
Large tropical courtyard full sun garden in Hawaii with mulch.

A professional artist wanted to transform the back garden of their 70s style East London home into a tropical paradise. Our eclectic client needed a garden and outdoor studio to complement their free-spirited nature and cater to their artistic and entertaining requirements. With a particular affinity for tropical vegetation from worldly travels, our client wanted their garden to evoke past explorations and spark the imagination. We transformed the conventional back garden lawn into a lush oasis with unique architectural elements.

Expansive tropical garden in Charleston.

This is an example of a tropical courtyard partial sun garden in San Francisco with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Sealight Studios Kauai
Photo of a tropical garden in Hawaii.

Making the most of a very small garden! Created with the idea of having different 'rooms' to make the area appear larger than it was. The client was requesting a modern, yet tropical garden. The deck creates a feeling that it takes you to another place in the garden

A bird bath breaks up space and becomes a focal point
Photo of a tropical garden in Tampa.

This Hawaiian home takes nature to the interior by highlighting custom items like concrete bathtubs and sinks. The large, pocket doors create the walls to this home--walls that can be added and removed as desired. This Kukio home rests on the sunny side of the Big Island and serves as a perfect example of our style, blending the outdoors with the inside of a home.